I know the Sunroof is only offered on EX and above trims.

After reading a few threads, I was surprised when I noticed that a few EX or EXL customers mentioned that they wish it didn't have the Sunroof?

Sunroofs always sounded like an attractive feature.
I'm curious to know the reason.

 

To me it was essential. I don't even open the glass often, but the shade is rarely closed. The whole car is bathed in light. I wouldn't be without it.

 

My last family car was a Jetta, and the sunroof was great until it started leaking. Ended up selling the car instead of fixing it, so couldn't tell you how hard it is. For myself, a sunroof is just a collection of things to go wrong, and along the way they add weight and reduce strength.

 

We had a TDI Jetta that after about 6 or so years, not sure how, while my dad was driving the glass just gave out and rained down into the car on the highway. Could have been a bolt or something that came out of a truck, we never found out. We also could not dig up if it had happened to anyone else before. We did find however that VW has a track record of weird problems with theirs.

For me I think they make the car look sportier IMO.

That and I am not a huge fan of opening my driver window for some fresh air. I'm 6'3, not sure if that has anything to do with my issue, and the wind slaps me upside the head like crazy.
I use the tilt function and crack/ open the rear windows and the air flow is awesome with no buffeting effect. If I am going 45 or under I open it all the way and again open the rear. It was what got me to get the EX instead of the sport.

 

The December 2017 Consumer Reports issue currently on the stands has a lengthy report on this issue of spontaneously shattering sun roof windows. It's a good read. I've known about this issue for many years and it's one of the reasons why I would never buy a car with a sunroof and why I bought the LX version of the Fit.

There is incidentally a similar problem with glass shower doors which are also often made with tempered glass and also are known to spontaneously shatter.

 

Personally, I don't like sunroof cars. I will buy a lesser trim level than I really want just to avoid the sunroof.

You will loose approximately 2" or maybe a little more of headroom on a sunroof equipped vehicle. On a boxy Fit it might not be an issue, but on some cars it can be. There's also the added weight of the sunroof located as high in the car as you can get. In addition having worked at the OEM level, sunroof cars structures aren't as strong. Usually the welded in roof bow is substituted for a hemmed in sunroof reinforcement that may or may not have structural adhesive? The OEM I worked for just used anti-flutter foam. that hemmed in sunroof reinforcement then usually has a 5-6mm bolt attaching it to the sides of the car opposed to the welded in roof bow and the roof being welded to that along with the sides of the car.

 

Here's a "non-answer" ...if you want/"need" one, then, yeah. If not, then no. My wife has pne in her Forte, she loves it. I can't be bothered with one...love my 'LX Fit

 

My 2000 Jetta had a sunroof, LOVED IT, never leaked, never shattered in the 10 years I owned that car. My 2010 Honda Fit Sport didn't have one and I almost had one installed aftermarket but didn't go through with it. Got used to going without... just bought a 2018 Fit EX-L and I'm glad to have the sunroof back -- I love the lighting (of which we get so little her in Oregon for the next 6+ months! LOL) and I too love tilting it up and cracking open the rear windows for the airflow

 

Woof, Rob H, and Fuelish, you all purchased your LX trim just because it didn't have the sunroof? Since LX is the cheapest, I just assumed that most bought it because of price.

Would it be safe to say that if you all were in the market to buy a Fit over again, you'd all probably jump into a Sport trim with the added styling?

 

yes, I would buy the sport because of the styling. Of course if it had a sunroof then I wouldn’t buy it

 

There are many news articles about spontaneously exploding sunroofs. The sunroof glass, unlike a windshield, is also not backed by a plastic coating, so when it shatters it breaks into many small shards. As stated by RobH, the roof is not as strong.

Here in Canada there were also many videos of glass table tops spontaneously exploding as well.

 

I just bought my LX a few weeks ago. It took me 20 seconds to dismiss the Sport as a ridiculous buy. With the same powertrain as the standard Fit it has little to offer. A turbo would have made it worthy of the name but as it is Honda did little more than tie a raccoon tail to the antenna to gussy it up and impress gullible people into buying it.

 

It's all up to the person, and maybe the climate you live in.
But I really love my Sunroof.
Through Spring, Summer, and even through late Autumn, pretty soon it will become too cold to really use it much.
But for over 3/4ths of the year? I love my Sunroof.
I like to open the sunroof, roll down all the windows. With the Fit's rather large front windshield, it's a real open feel.

But it's all up to the individual.
To me, I really like the sunroof.

 

I've owned 7 vehicles with sunroofs. No problems with any of them.

If there's a leak, 99% of the time it's due to clogged drains. Factory sunroofs are not meant to be water tight. There are channels with drains for the water that comes in. Many people are too stupid to know that so they start using sealant and all kinds of junk to seal the roof to the car. All that is needed is cleaning of the drains.

 

I vehemently dislike air conditioning. I'm a fresh air person so the more airflow the merrier. I especially enjoy opening the sunroof on warm summer nights.

I would be fine if it were metal instead of glass, personally. If the shade is open, the sunroof is usually cracked or open as well.

 

meh, i dont use the sunroof on the GK nor my GTI at all. hell, im so happy there is no sunroof on my STI and R!

 

Along with Fitchet, as a resident of Oregon, I need to get my vitamin D.

 

I mainly bought LX for having a manual trans and no touchscreen... touchscreens and I do not get along. 😁

 

It wasn't just the sunroof that made me look for an LX, it was the touchscreen and the wheels too. The traditional knobs work way better for me, and I wanted lighter 16" alloys than the stock EX offered. Plan was always to take the stock wheels and put snow tires on them, so steels were good enough for that.

Price was a factor, sure, but more in the sense of why should I pay a few thousand more for things I actively dislike? If I had to get a new one, I'd go the same route. And if you want a sportier car but still want a Fit, the savings can pay for aftermarket parts. Shocks, springs, downpipe and muffler, you can transform the driving experience.

 

I've been driving for 40+ years, so I've had my fair share of cars. I thought I hated sunroofs. Never had one.

I was all lined up for an LX. Drove a few and loved them. Looking for a blue one that my dealer didn't have.

My dealer found an EX manual at another dealer. Never drove it, just had them bring it over and pay for it.

I love the thing! Not open air, but just have the cover open. Completely changes the car. I've owned convertibles. Not the same. I'd say better (no wind hitting the back of your head).

YMMV.